As more and more Chinese take to stand-up comedy, either doing it or watching it, Shi is one of the fortunate few talented enough to be able to make a living from it. However, waiting in the wings are many others who, even if they cannot give up their day jobs yet, are good enough to put on performances that can leave audiences in stitches.

One of them is Xiao Wu, 27, one of the few women in Beijing's expanding stand-up comedy circuit, who continues to practice comedy on the side. Much of the serious part of her life takes place in the office of finance at a university, where she works as an accountant, between 9 am and 5 pm.

Over the past three years she has done more than 100 public shows at venues including bars, pubs and colleges. These shows usually attract an audience of between 50 and 70 people, whom she regales with her take on university life and the life of a single person.

She puts on two shows a week, from each of which she will earn between 200 yuan and 300 yuan (about $38).

"Obviously you cannot live on that kind of money, so I cannot afford to quit my job," she says. "Another reason is the pressure from my parents and peers. My parents have the highest expectations of me and want me to lead a stable, decent life."